Willits Wolverines remain undeafeated in NCL I play

The Willits High School boys and girls varsity basketball teams won a pair of games last week to remain undefeated in the North Central League I. Being the only unbeaten team in their divisions doesn't come without a hefty price, however.

The Wolverines (6-0) have become a target and it's every team's goal to hand them their first loss. Teams come ready and bring their best game with them, but somehow Willits continues to pull out the victory?barely.

Against Lower Lake last Friday, both the girls and boys game came down to the buzzer with the girls winning by just one point and the boys by three points.

Coaches Duane Nelson and Eric Mehtlan both say it wasn't their teams' best performance, but the desire to win carried them through.

It's all about desire.

The Lady Wolverines two league wins last week put them on an eight-game winning streak.

Last Tuesday, they dominated both ends of the court against Fort Bragg, opening the game with a 19-2 first quarter. The Timberwolves' (1-4, 7-10) woes continued into the second quarter, despite the Wolverines pulling off their full court press. By halftime, Fort Bragg trailed 36-3.

Sam DelBello led the way with 17 points and six steals, as the Wolverines went on to win, 57-17. Alicia Mehtlan added 13 points and five rebounds.

W ? ?19 ? 17 ? 12 ? 9 ? 57

FB ? ?2 ? ? 1 ? ? 9 ? 5 ? ?17

Friday's game against Lower Lake was a nail-biter that went down to the final seconds. The Trojans (3-3, 7-11) just missed handing the Ladies their first league loss. It was Kellie Elder's hook shot with just four seconds left that gave Willits a 48-47 lead and the win.?

"Lower Lake outplayed us in the first half," said Coach Mehtlan. "We shot 24 times and made just five."

Willits trailed 28-21 at the half.

During the halftime intermission Mehtlan gave his team an earful. It was, he says, the hardest halftime talk he has ever given in his entire coaching career.

"I told them they were playing unacceptable basketball, and I was not going to allow it."

His team responded, outscoring the Trojans 27-19 in the second half. Their turned up intensity caused turnovers then turned them into points.

"It was one of those games that came down to the will," said Mehtlan. "We willed it to happen."

Willits pulled ahead late in the fourth quarter, and at one point led 46-41. But Lower Lake rallied to take the lead, stunning the Wolverines on a 6-0 run, giving them a one-point lead with under a minute to play.

Playing ill was Alicia Mehtlan, the Wolverines' leading scorer. Although she was unable to contribute much, there was a great need for her presence on the court.

The troubles for Willits increased when Camp fouled out in the fourth quarter. It was going to be up to the bench to win the game.

"I asked Kellie if she wanted to take the ball out or be the one to take the final shot," Mehtlan said. "She said she wanted to take the shot."

The Wolverines moved the ball up the court and passed it inside to Elder, who leaped to bank it in, scoring the go-ahead basket.

"When we needed her the most, she came through," Mehtlan said.

Sam DelBello led with 16 points, including 4-for-4 from the free throw line, seven rebounds and 11 of the teams 18 steals.

Alexis Camp had 13 points, including 7-for-12 from the free throw line and 10 rebounds.?

Elder had 11 points, going 3-of-4 from the free throw line and pulling down seven rebounds.

"I told the girls after the game that it's almost like destiny," Mehtlan said. "That's two games that we have won in the last little bit of the game, and as bad as we played those games we still managed to win."

W ? 10 ? 11 ? ?11 ? ?16 ? ? 48

LL ?12 ? 16 ? ? 7 ? ? 12 ? ? 47

The boys, meanwhile, also posted a pair of triumphs, putting their winning streak at 10.

Leading his team in rebounding was Jon Montez with 11, he also had 12 points. Cole Jessup led in steals with five and added six points and nine rebounds. Dimitri Betts, borrowed from the jayvee squad, added four points and four rebounds.

FB ? 15 ? ?3 ? ?9 ? ?16 ? ?43

W ? ?14 ? 10 ?14 ? 18 ? ?56

The Lower Lake Trojans (2-4, 7-11) came to Willits last Friday with every intention of beating the unbeaten Wolverines, and they almost did. Almost.

In a back-and-forth battle that came down to the final shot, it was Willits that came out ahead with a hard-earned 51-48 victory.

Not only was it the Wolverines 10th straight win, it was their coach's 100th win for Willits. In his seventh year at WHS, Duane Nelson realized his milestone while comparing season stats just prior to the game.

"I was looking at the season-to-season stats the other day and I noticed I had 86 wins coming in [to this season] and I have 13 right now. One more is 100."

The Wolverines are a small team with just eight players, but Friday night against Lower Lake they were even more limited without the services of Will Betts, who was out ill. However, back in the lineup was Danin Tyrrell, who although not fully recovered, was well enough to play.

Willits struggled offensively throughout the game, going just 17 for 63 shooting.

"When you shoot that badly and still win, you're pretty happy to win one," said Coach Nelson.

The Wolverines' strength came through in their rebounding, where they average an impressive 40 a game. It has become one of the Wolverines' most valuable assets, and they have had to rely on it several times this season to earn them the win.

"We control the rebounds and it really makes the game," said Nelson. "It's why we are in so many tight games because we shoot pretty average but we control the rebounds."

The Wolverines had 23 offensive rebounds in the game and 26 defensive.

Jon Montez, who at 6 feet 5 inches is Willits leading rebounder, was in foul trouble for much of the game and sat out almost a full quarter. Stepping up were Cole Jessup and Wyatt Sanderson, who pulled down a combined 24 rebounds.

"When Jon got in foul trouble Wyatt decided he was going to take control of the game, and he did a real good job there in the second half," said Nelson. "I was really proud of him."

Sanderson finished the game with nine points and nine rebounds.

Jessup led his team in rebounding with 15 and had 13 points, including three 3-point goals. Jon Montez led in scoring with 15 points and added 14 rebounds.

Danin Tyrrell had seven points, including two 3-point goals. Palmer Runberg also had seven points.